Abstract

A study has been made of the temperature activity relationships of the serum cholinesterase variants differentiated by means of dibucaine and fluoride inhibition. Using benzoylcholine as substrate, there is a characteristic temperature activity curve for each phenotype, and, for those most sensitive to succinyldicholine, this differs radically from that of the normal enzyme.

A true index of serum cholinesterase activity is obtained only at 37°C, as at other temperatures various assumptions and correction factors have to be made, and the results could be misleading.